Eliahu Inbal to become chief conductor of Czech orchestra

Israel's Eliahu Inbal has been selected to become the chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, an official said Wednesday.

Inbal, 71, was assuming the post for the 2009-2010 season, replacing Zdenek Macal, who resigned last year after taking the job in 2003, orchestra spokeswoman Barbora Kalosova said.

In the past, Inbal served as a music director for Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1974-1990, and in 1995-2001 was the chief conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of the RAI in Italy's Torino.

In 2001, he was named the music director of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra.